Egg-white-mediated crystallization of calcium carbonate

In this paper, shape-controlled crystallization and self-assembly of CaCO3 hierarchical architectures has been successfully synthesized via the gas diffusion method in egg white solution. Stepwise growth and assembly of CaCO3 nanoparticles has been observed from transition of an amorphous CaCO3 to the crystallization and stabilization of platelet-like nanoparticles and eventually, the wool sphere-like CaCO3 hierarchical architectures assembling of nanoparticles. The proteins binding on nanoparticle surfaces proved to regulate the growth of nanoparticles and subsequent assembly into hierarchical superstructures via electrostatic and dipole interactions. The samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and nano mechanical Tester. The measured average elastic modulus and the hardness of calcium carbonate hybrid materials were 5.32 GPa and 0.1886 GPa by the nano-indenter test, respectively.

► Wool sphere-like CaCO3 hierarchical architectures were synthesized in egg white solution.
► The average elastic modulus of CaCO3 hybrid materials was 5.32 GPa.
► The hardness of CaCO3 hybrid materials was 0.1886 GPa.